As an incoming junior studying environmental biology and human rights, I don’t yet have a certain career in mind. My interests have been evolving through my coursework and experiences at Barnard and I’m gradually forming an idea of what my place will be in the world after I graduate. Upon entering Barnard, I knew I had a love of biology and environmental science after courses that I had taken in high school. After taking courses in human rights and writing a paper for a land use seminar about research being done to improve, both for the farmers and the environment, subsistence agriculture in developing countries I have further developed my interests. I’d like to be involved with developing, implementing and evaluating research such as this. I’d like to do research that aims at both preserving the environment while advancing human rights. I’m still figuring out how to translate my aspirations into a career, and my plans for graduate school will play a large role in shaping that.

As a student I am currently working to advance these goals with my involvement on campus. I’m a member of the group Students for Environmental and Economic Justice which is currently working to get the university to adopt a purchasing code as a commitment to a high standard of ethical and environmental friendliness for the things that the university buys. SEEJ, as the organization is abbreviated, is a non-hierarchical and consensus based, meaning that we all work closely together in what we do and that we are all equal members. We have all put in time doing research, writing our code, and taking turns meeting and working with the administration to get it implemented. I’m glad I have the opportunity to be a member of SEEJ because it allows me, even as a student, to work on the issues that I feel are important and also to be involved in and improve the community that I am a member of.